Nathan Louis Campbell, 38, seen here in a 2008 booking photo in Panama City, Fla., pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and other charges for allegedly running down pedestrians on the Venice Beach boardwalk in Los Angeles. / Bay County Sheriff's Office via AP

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

Murder and assault charges were filed Tuesday against a Colorado transient accused of deliberately driving down the crowded Venice Beach boardwalk in Los Angeles, killing an Italian honeymooner and injuring 16 other pedestrians.

Nathan Louis Campbell, 38, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held on $1.48 million bail. He is to return to court Sept. 4.

Besides one count of murder, he was charged with 16 counts of assault with a deadly weapon and 17 counts of hit and run. He surrendered Saturday night, two hours after a 2008 black Dodge Avenger skirted barriers and mowed down pedestrians on the famous Pacific walkway about 6:30 p.m. PT.

Witnesses estimated that the car was traveling at up to 60 mph and that the driver appeared to be targeting people.

Police have not revealed a possible motive for the assault.

Alice Gruppioni, a 32-year-old newlywed from Bologna, Italy, died from head and neck trauma. Her husband suffered cuts and bruises. By Monday afternoon, all of the injured were out of the hospital.

Authorities said Campbell has a long history of homelessness, minor crimes and drug and alcohol abuse.

He has no fixed address in California, where police say he had arrived recently after buying the Dodge in Colorado about a month ago. He is unemployed and apparently was sleeping in his car.

Records cited by the Los Angeles Times and NBC Los Angeles show that Campbell also had addresses in Florida and Georgia, and that he had been arrested several times over the past 11 years. He pleaded guilty to public drunkenness in nearby Santa Monica, Calif., in 2002, and six years later in Panama City Beach, Fla., he pleaded guilty to reckless driving with alcohol.

Campbell, who was reportedly born in Georgia, worked at a Denver-area sober-living center until June, the executive director told the Times.